Volume 2 Issue 1

From Local Streams to Regional Dreams: Envisioning a Just Green Transition in the Western Balkans from-local-streams-to-regional-dreams-envisioning-a-just-green-transition-in-the-western-balkans Volume 2, Issue 1 Research Article 2025 2 The implementation of the EU Green Agenda for the Western Balkans has led to a surge in hydropower projects in the region. These initiatives faced the opposition of peripheral rural communities, resulting in local conflicts that scaled to the regional level with the support of environmental organizations and experts. These conflicts represent a new form of environmental mobilization in the region, engaging local communities marginalized from civil society activism. Through a case study of the regional network “Let’s Defend the Balkan Rivers,” this paper explores the key issues driving mobilization for river protection and the mechanisms that enabled local struggles to scale to the regional level. It employs frame analysis of media content, movement documents, and semi-structured interviews with activists to examine the movement’s cultural repertoires of collective action. It argues that grassroots opposition to hydropower projects has unveiled interconnected issues of environmental threats and democracy. Furthermore, it highlights how a deep emotional attachment to rivers motivated local communities to engage in collective action, fostering solidarity that bridged local rootedness with transnational cooperation. Drawing on environmental sociology, political ecology, and social movement studies, the research aligns with emerging scholarship from post-socialist Eastern Europe, which seeks to situate locally embedded forms of environmentalism within broader academic debates and global trends.

]]> Berishaj, V. (2021). Decarbonisation of the region – a sustainable and just energy transition. Green Transition and Social (in)Justice, 10, 32–35.

Bilic, B., & Stubbs, P. (2015). Unsettling “The Urban” in Post-Yugoslav Activisms: Right to the City and Pride Parades in Serbia and Croatia. In K. Jacobsson & S. Saxonberg (Eds.), Urban grassroots movements in Central and Eastern Europe (pp. 119–138). Ashgate Pub.

Bougarel, X. (1999). Yugoslav Wars: The ‘Revenge of the Countryside’ between Sociological Reality and Nationalist Myth. East European Quarterly, 32(2), 157–175.

Carmin, J., & Vandeveer, S. D. (2004). Enlarging EU Environments: Central and Eastern Europe from Transition to Accession. Environmental Politics, 13(1), 3–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644010410001685119

Della Porta, D., & Piazza, G. (2008). Voices of the Valley, Voices of the Straits: How Protest Creates Communities. Berghahn Books. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781845458621

Devine-Wright, P. (2009). Rethinking NIMBYism: The role of place attachment and place identity in explaining place-protective action. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 19(6), 426–441. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.1004

Dogmus, O. C., & Nielsen, J. Ø. (2020). The on-paper hydropower boom: A case study of corruption in the hydropower sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ecological Economics, 172, 106630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106630

Escobar, A. (2008). Territories of Difference: Place, Movements, Life, Redes. Duke University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1198wg2

Fagan, A., & Buzogany, A. (2022). Beyond Europeanization: Political ecology and environmentalism in Central and Eastern Europe. Environmental Politics, 31(7), 1203–1213. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2022.2147652

Fagan, A., & Carmin, J. (2011). Green activism in Post-Socialist Europe and the Soviet Union. Routledge.

Fagan, A., & Ejdus, F. (2022). Lost at the waterfront? Explaining the absence of green organisations in the Don’t let Belgrade D(r)own movement. Environmental Politics, 31(7), 1289–1308. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2020.1720473

Fagan, A., & Sircar, I. (2015). Europeanization of the Western Balkans. Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137319050

Gallop, P. (2021). Prospects for independent action in the Western Balkans’ energy transition. Green Transition and Social (in)Justice, 10, 9–13.

Gordy, E. D. (2000). Turbasi and Rokeri as Windows into Serbia’s Social Divide. Balkanologie, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.4000/balkanologie.774

Hromadzic, A. (2024). Riverine citizenship: A Bosnian city in love with the river. Central European University Press.

Hunt, S. A., & Benford, R. A. (2004). Collective Identity, Solidarity, and Commitment. In D. A. Snow, S. A. Soule, & H. Kriesi (Eds.), The Blackwell Companion to Social Movements (pp. 433–457). Blackwell Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470999103.ch19

Jacobsson, K., & Saxonberg, S. (Eds.). (2013). Beyond NGO-ization: The development of social movements in Central and Eastern Europe. Ashgate.

Jansen, S. (2005). Who’s afraid of white socks? Towards a critical understanding of post-Yugoslav urban self-perceptions. Ethnologia Balkanica, 09, 151–167.

Jehlicka, P., & Jacobsson, K. (2021). The importance of recognizing difference: Rethinking Central and East European environmentalism. Political Geography, 87, 102379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2021.102379

Jerolmack, C., & Walker, E. T. (2018). Please in My Backyard: Quiet Mobilization in Support of Fracking in an Appalachian Community. American Journal of Sociology, 124(2), 479–516. https://doi.org/10.1086/698215

Kojola, E. (2020). Who Speaks for the Place? Cultural Dynamics of Conflicts Over Hazardous Industrial Development. Sociological Forum, 35(3), 673–695. https://doi.org/10.1111/socf.12620

Kovacevic, N. (2021). How to restore social well-being and whether decarbonized energy is possible in the Western Balkans. Green Transition and Social (in)Justice, 10, 36–39.

Kurtovic, L. (2022, May 18). Riverine Struggles Against Plunder and Dispossession: Water Defenders in Postwar Bosnia-Herzegovina. Europe Now Journal. https://www.europenowjournal.org/2022/05/17/riverine-struggles-against-plunder-and-dispossession-water-defenders-in-postwar-bosnia-herzegovina/

Kurtovic, L., & Hromadzic, A. (2020, March 24). Socialist Greens: On Vernacular Environmentalisms. Society for Cultural Anthropology. https://culanth.org/fieldsights/socialist-greens-on-vernacular-environmentalisms

Martinez-Alier, J., Temper, L., Del Bene, D., & Scheidel, A. (2016). Is there a global environmental justice movement? The Journal of Peasant Studies, 43(3), 731–755. https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2016.1141198

Massey, D. B. (1994). Space, place, and gender. Univ. of Minnesota Press.

Milan, C., & Dolenec, D. (2023). Social movements in Southeast Europe: From urban mobilisation to electoral competition. East European Politics, 39(4), 577–587. https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2023.2267991

Muehlebach, A. K. (2023). A vital frontier: Water insurgencies in Europe. Duke University Press.

Müller, M. (2020). In Search of the Global East: Thinking between North and South. Geopolitics, 25(3), 734–755. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2018.1477757

Pellizzoni, L. (2014). Territorio e movimenti sociali. Continuità, innovazione o integrazione? Poliarchie, 2, 5–33.

Pesic, J., & Vukelic, J. (2022). Europeanisation from below at the semi-periphery: The movement against small hydropower plants in Serbia. Sociologija, 64(1), 5–27. https://doi.org/10.2298/SOC2201005P

Rajkovic, I. (2020). Rivers to the People: Ecopopulist Universality in the Balkan Mountains. Society for Cultural Anthropology. https://culanth.org/fieldsights/rivers-to-the-people-ecopopulist-universality-in-the-balkan-mountains

Ruiz, J., & Domon, G. (2012). Relationships between rural inhabitants and their landscapes in areas of intensive agricultural use: A case study in Quebec (Canada). Journal of Rural Studies, 28(4), 590–602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2012.09.005

Schlosberg, D., & Collins, L. B. (2014). From environmental to climate justice: Climate change and the discourse of environmental justice. WIREs Climate Change, 5(3), 359–374. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.275

Schwarz, U. (2022). Hydropower Projects on Balkan Rivers – 2022 Update. RiverWatch & EuroNatur.

Schwarz, U. (2025). Hydropower Projects on Balkan Rivers – 2024 Update (6). RiverWatch & EuroNatur. https://www.legaltoolkit4rivers.eu/1-introduction/

Snow, D. A. (2013). Case Studies and Social Movements. In D. Della Porta, B. Klandermans, D. McAdam, & D. A. Snow (Eds.), The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements (1st ed.). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470674871.wbespm022

Snow, D. A., Vliegenthart, R., & Ketelaars, P. (2019). The framing perspective on social movements: Its conceptual roots and architecture. In D. A. Snow, S. A. Soule, H. Kriesi, & H. J. McCammon (Eds.), The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Social Movements (2nd ed., pp. 392–410). Wiley-Blackwell.

Threadgold, S., Farrugia, D., Askland, H., Askew, M., Hanley, J., Sherval, M., & Coffey, J. (2018). Affect, risk and local politics of knowledge: Changing land use in Narrabri, NSW. Environmental Sociology, 4(4), 393–404. https://doi.org/10.1080/23251042.2018.1463673

Touquet, H. (2015). Non-ethnic Mobilisation in Deeply Divided Societies, the Case of the Sarajevo Protests. Europe-Asia Studies, 67(3), 388–408. https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2015.1019430

Velicu, I., & Kaika, M. (2017). Undoing environmental justice: Re-imagining equality in the Rosia Montana anti-mining movement. Geoforum, 84, 305–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2015.10.012

]]> Grassroots environmentalism, river protection, regional network, green transition, frame analysis 2025-06-19 https://brj.ibupress.com/articles/from-local-streams-to-regional-dreams-envisioning-a-just-green-transition-in-the-western-balkans 1 1-14 en CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ https://brj.ibupress.com/file/633/ibu-journal-brj-2-1.pdf Aida Kapetanovic University of Rijeka (Croatia) and University of Belgrade (Serbia) true Balkan Research Journal 2955-2516 2955-2524 Balkan University Press https://brj.ibupress.com

Democratic Stagnation and Nationalism in North Macedonia: Political, Institutional, and Social Challenge democratic-stagnation-and-nationalism-in-north-macedonia-political-institutional-and-social-challenge Volume 2, Issue 1 Research Article 2025 2 This paper examines the factors contributing to democratic stagnation in North Macedonia during the period from 2009 to 2016. The country’s democratic development has been marred by persistent challenges, including political polarization, institutional weaknesses, and issues of corruption. The period in question saw setbacks in democratic reforms, characterized by electoral irregularities, limited media freedom, and contentious inter-ethnic relations. These factors have undermined the consolidation of democratic institutions and hindered progress towards European integration. The study analyzes key political events, economic factors, and societal dynamics that have shaped North Macedonia’s democratic trajectory during this critical period. By identifying these factors, the paper aims to provide insights into the complexities of democratic governance in transitional societies and the challenges of sustaining democratic norms amidst internal and external pressures

]]> Bieber, F. (2018). The Rise of Authoritarianism in the Western Balkan. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

Brownlee, J. (2007). Authoritarianism in an Age of Democratization. New York: Cambridge University Press.

European Commission Progress Report. (2011). HE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA 2011 PROGRESS. Brussels: European Commission.

European Commission Progress Report. (2012). The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2012 Progress Report. Brussels: European Commission.

Feedom House. (2019). Freedom in the World 2018, The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

Freedom House. (2006). Freedom in the Word 2006, The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Freedom House. (2008). Freedom in the Word 2008, The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Freedom House. (2009). Freedom in the World 2009, The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. .

Freedom House. (2011). Freedom in the World 2011, An annual survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefi eld Publishers, Inc.

Freedom House. (2013). Fredom in the World 2013. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

Freedom House. (2013). Freedom in the World 2012 The Annual Survey of Political Rights And Civil Liberties. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Freedom House. (2015). Freedom in the World 2014, The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. .

Freedom House. (2020). Freedom in the World 2019, The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Maryland: The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

Freedom House. (2016). Freedom in the World 2015, The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

Freedom House. (2017). Freedom in the Word 2016, The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

Georgievska-Jakovleva, L. (2014). The Project Skopje 14: Between Social Cohesion and Social Disintegration. Culture,8, 43-56.

Graan, A. (2013). Counterfeiting the Nation? Skopje 2014 and the Politics of Nation Branding in Macedonia. American Anthropological Association, 161-179.

Prespa Agreement. (2018, June 17). Retrieved from Government of the Republic of North Macedonia: https://vlada.mk/sites/default/files/dokumenti/spogodba-en.pdf

Reuters. (2019, August 20). North Macedonia's prosecutor questioned over extortion scheme. Retrieved from Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-north-macedonia-investigation-idUSKCN1VA1LG

Risteski, L. S. (2016). Monuments and Urban Nationalism. The Skopje2014 Project. Antropologija , 50-70.

Saveski, Z., & Sadiku, A. (2012). The Radical Right in Macedonia. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung; International Policy Analysis, 1-11.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic; Ivana Kostovska. (2015, September 15). Macedonia Parties Clinch Deal on Special Prosecutor. Retrieved from BalkanInsight: https://balkaninsight.com/2015/09/15/macedonia-talks-on-special-prosecutor-reach-deadline-09-14-2015/

Skoulariki, A. (2020). Skopje 2014: Antiquisation, urban identity and the rejection of Balkan otherness. Herodotos Publications, 225-259.

Vecer. (2023, 02 21). Sinovi, snai, kerki i sopruzi na politicari – novi sudii i obviniteli! [Sons, daughters-in-law, daughters, and wives of politicians – new judges and prosecutors!]. Retrieved from Vecer: https://www.vecer.press/

]]> North Macedonia, Democratic stagnation, Political polarization, Institutional weaknesses, European integration 2025-06-19 https://brj.ibupress.com/articles/democratic-stagnation-and-nationalism-in-north-macedonia-political-institutional-and-social-challenge 1 15-32 en CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ https://brj.ibupress.com/file/632/ibu-journal-brj-2-2.pdf Flamur Ismaili International Balkan University, Skopje, North Macedonia true Balkan Research Journal 2955-2516 2955-2524 Balkan University Press https://brj.ibupress.com

Promoting Cultural Awareness and Autonomous Learning in Higher Education: A Case Study promoting-cultural-awareness-and-autonomous-learning-in-higher-education-a-case-study Volume 2, Issue 1 Research Article 2025 2 The main aim of this paper is to promote autonomous learning and cultural awareness among professors and students in higher education. The issue of whether students should be actively involved in the learning process and regarded as collaborators in course materials, topics and plans is an ongoing issue. In regard to the assumption that the professors are in charge of the educational process and in regard to the cultural awareness issue that accordingly, the student should not be asked to participate in course content or suggest topics, the case study, in fact, explores ways how autonomous learning can be introduced and the outcomes of the process. Participants in the case study are 30 students of IBU, of various fields (ELT, PCG and VA) who were enrolled in the course Program development in the previous semester (Fall 2024). The implementation of autonomous learning was simultaneously conducted through the different tasks and projects that the students were asked to complete along the course. The first phase consisted of determining the goals and defining students’ needs. The second phase consisted of student support and empathy. Students learned to trust the process and to work on their own and in groups and to provide feedback. They designed their own plans, presented and taught their peers and reflected on the process afterwards. The last phase consisted of course-material experts. In this phase, students were asked to modify course materials, more specifically, to develop an additional chapter for the primary source (the course book). Students were additionally advised to complete personal portfolios. The portfolios provide students’ feedback and reflections on the process, alongside their progress in the course. The procedure along with the outcomes of the process will be presented further in the paper

]]> Benson, P. & Voller, P. (1997). Autonomy and Independence in Language Learning. London: Longman.

Benson, P. (Ed.). (2013). Teaching and researching autonomy. (2^nd ed.). Routledge.

Benson, P. Chik, A. & Lim, H. Y. (2003). Becoming autonomous in an Asian context: Autonomy as a sociocultural process. In D. Palfreyman, & R.C. Smith (Eds.), Learner autonomy across cultures (pp. 23-40). Palgrave Macmillan.

Chen, H.I. & Pan, H. H. (2015). Learner autonomy and the use of language learning strategies in a Taiwanese junior high-school. Journal of studies in Education, 5(1), 52-64. https://doi.org/10.5296/jse.v5i1.6972

Dickinson, C. & Wright, J. (1993).Differentiation: a practical handbook of classroom strategies. Coventry: National council for educational technology.

Miftari, I. (2015). The concept of learner autonomy- A focus on metacognitive reading strategies at University Level, Promoting learner autonomy in higher education. Chapter 7., pg.101.

Little, D. (1991). Learner Autonomy. 1: Definitions, Issues and Problems. Dublin: Authentik.

Shikun, Li and Guofang, Li (2024). Revisit English Learner Autonomy Among Chinese Non-English Major Students During the COVID-19 Lockdown, SAGE Open
October-December 2024: 1–18 DOI: 10.1177/215824402412897journals.sagepub.com/home/sgo

Wang, L., & Li, W. (2024). The impact of AI usage on university students’ willingness for autonomous learning. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14100956.

]]> autonomous learning, cultural awareness, higher education, reflection, collaboration 2025-06-19 https://brj.ibupress.com/articles/promoting-cultural-awareness-and-autonomous-learning-in-higher-education-a-case-study 1 33-44 en CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ https://brj.ibupress.com/file/631/ibu-journal-brj-2-3.pdf Igballe Miftari-Fetishi International Balkan University true Balkan Research Journal 2955-2516 2955-2524 Balkan University Press https://brj.ibupress.com

Challenges in Interpreting Studies: Students’ Perspective and Views challenges-in-interpreting-studies-students-perspective-and-views Volume 2, Issue 1 Research Article 2025 2 Interpreting is a complex task that involves linguistic, cognitive, and cultural dimensions. Interpreting is a skill that extends beyond linguistic proficiency to encompass cultural awareness, rhetorical understanding, and emotional intelligence. Interpreters must not only translate words but also capture the speaker’s intent, tone, and emotions while maintaining accuracy and neutrality. In this paper, the challenges that novice interpreters encounter, particularly in political discourse, academic and professional training, in the framework of simultaneous interpretation, are explored. A questionnaire was administered to novice interpreters, and their views concerning their expectations were recorded. In theory and practice, there have been multiple approaches in order to enhance novice interpreters’ training according to the findings and conclusions of extensive research in psychological, linguistics, sociolinguistics, and pragmatics dimensions of interpreting. In this study, we shed light on challenges in interpreting studies as perceived by students and graduates.

]]> Bendazzoli, C., Bertozzi, M. & Russo, M. (2020). Du texte aux ressources multimodales : faire avancer la recherche en interprétation à partir d’un corpus déjà existant.[ From Text to Multimodal Resources : Advancing Interpreting Research Using an Existing Corpus] Meta, 65(1), 211–236. https://doi.org/10.7202/1073643ar

Ho, C. E. (2021). What does professional experience have to offer? An eye tracking study of sight interpreting /translation behaviour. Translation Cognition Behavior.

Kikides, G. (2025). Analysis of interpreting methods and approaches in simultaneous interpretation in European institutions from French into Greek: Speeches of the Presidents of the French Republic (Unpublished dissertation). Ionian University.

Poeckhacker, M. (2023). Pioneering interpreting studies: The extraordinary case of Ingrid Kurz, Interpreting 25:2.

Pappa, M. (2022). Trends in interpreters’ training and students’ attitudes. In The 7th International Language, Culture and Literature Symposium / 7. Uluslararası Dil, Kültür ve Edebiyat Sempozyumu.

Valantasi, M. (2025). Students' attitudes and perceptions regarding their initial academic and professional training (Unpublished dissertation). Ionian University.

Weissmann, D. (2012). La médiation linguistique à l’université : Propositions pour un changement d’approche. [Linguistic Mediation at the University : Proposals for a Change in Approach] In ELA. Études de linguistique appliquée, (167), 313–323.

]]> Interpreting, challenges, psychological, linguistics, sociolinguistics, and pragmatics dimension of interpreting 2025-06-19 https://brj.ibupress.com/articles/challenges-in-interpreting-studies-students-perspective-and-views 1 45-56 en CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ https://brj.ibupress.com/file/630/ibu-journal-brj-2-4.pdf Marina Pappa Ionian University, Corfu, Greece true Balkan Research Journal 2955-2516 2955-2524 Balkan University Press https://brj.ibupress.com

Social Turbulence and Transformation in the Balkan Region: Challenges of Active Inclusion for Victims of Human Trafficking – A Case Study of Young Girls in North Macedonia social-turbulence-and-transformation-in-the-balkan-region-challenges-of-active-inclusion-for-victims-of-human-trafficking-a-case-study-of-young-girls-in-north-macedonia Volume 2, Issue 1 Research Article 2025 2 Human trafficking in the Balkan region represents a critical human rights issue amid ongoing social upheaval and transformation. This study investigates the intricate challenges related to the social inclusion and reintegration of trafficking survivors, mainly focusing on young female victims in North Macedonia. A mixed-methods approach was employed, which included qualitative interviews with survivors, social workers, policymakers, and law enforcement officials, as well as comprehensive reviews of legal frameworks, policy documents, and statistical data. Key statistics include: nearly 70% of identified victims in North Macedonia are minors (average age ~15), women and girls constitute approximately 72% of global trafficking victims, and annual reported cases in North Macedonia range between 150–200—with forced marriage cases totaling 17 and increasing incidents of online exploitation among adolescents. The findings highlight various reintegration obstacles, such as structural limitations (e.g., inadequate shelter capacity and chronic funding shortages), significant psychological trauma, and widespread societal stigma, all compounded by gaps in existing legal and institutional support systems. Although North Macedonia’s legal framework complies with international standards, survivors frequently struggle to access education, employment, and community resources. Recent initiatives aimed at increasing deterrence through stricter sentencing and specialized judicial practices indicate a positive yet inconsistent legal response. This paper offers specific, evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to create sustainable reintegration strategies for young trafficking survivors in North Macedonia and the larger Balkan area.

]]> Council of Europe. (2005). Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. https://www.coe.int/en/web/anti-human-trafficking

Council of Europe. (2023). GRETA third evaluation report on North Macedonia: Access to justice and effective remedies for victims of trafficking in human beings. Strasbourg.

Law on Foreigners. (2018). Ministry of Interior & Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Republic of North Macedonia

UNICEF North Macedonia. (2024). Children constitute seventy percent of all identified victims of human trafficking from North Macedonia [Press release]. UNICEF North Macedonia.

]]> human trafficking, social inclusion, reintegration, human rights, legal protection 2025-06-19 https://brj.ibupress.com/articles/social-turbulence-and-transformation-in-the-balkan-region-challenges-of-active-inclusion-for-victims-of-human-trafficking-a-case-study-of-young-girls-in-north-macedonia 1 57-76 en CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ https://brj.ibupress.com/file/629/ibu-journal-brj-2-5.pdf Natasa Dimeska Cyril Methodius University, Skopje, North Macedonia true Marjan Dabeski University St. Kliment Ohridski, Kichevo, North Macedonia Balkan Research Journal 2955-2516 2955-2524 Balkan University Press https://brj.ibupress.com

The Victim’s Right to Compensation the-victim-s-right-to-compensation Volume 2, Issue 1 Research Article 2025 2 Whenever the term victim is used, almost everyone is aware that someone has suffered harm or something has happened to them that is contrary to their interests. The word victim is derived from the Latin word, “victim” and the verb vincere, vaincere and has the meaning of sacrifice, suffering, damage, victimization, destruction of property, while the science which deals with its study is called victimology. The word victim essentially means the person or group that has suffered, that has been harmed as a result of various actions whether caused by man, animals, natural disasters, etc. In general, we are talking about human, animal and plant victims, and with an expression characterized the whole process of human suffering, which is called, “victimization”, which means an indefinite number of wrongdoings that endanger, annihilate, damage and threaten the basic goods and values of man. In fact, when the term victimization is used, it is thought about the ways, routes, forms of injury, its scale and intensity (Halili, 2011). Victims according to the legislation, respectively the positive provisions of Republic of North Macedonia, but also according to various legalities in the world, enjoy many rights, among which the victims have the right to compensation for damage. Damage compensation can be calculated in moral and material compensation. The moral compensation is not foreseen with positive provisions; however, it is presented as a satisfaction of the sentence which is imposed on the perpetrator or perpetrators, while the material compensation is defined with positive legal provisions. We can conclude that moral compensation is presented in cases when the victim feels in himself that the goal has been achieved and the perpetrator has been given the deserved punishment, while material compensation is realized in a certain legal procedure and the perpetrator or the state in certain cases performs compensation

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Halili, R. (2011). Victimology. Prishtina, Kosovo.

Veseli, S. (2018). War against violent extremism: Regional aspects of the Balkans (Master's thesis). University of Tetovo, Tetovo, North Macedonia.

Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia. (2021). Law on prevention and protection from violence against women and domestic violence (No. 24/2021). Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia.

Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia. (2010, 2012, 2016, 2018). Law on criminal procedure (No. 150/2010, 100/2012, 142/2016, 198/2018). Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia.

]]> victim, compensation for damage (moral, material), criminal offense, violence 2025-06-19 https://brj.ibupress.com/articles/the-victim-s-right-to-compensation 1 77-84 en CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ https://brj.ibupress.com/file/628/ibu-journal-brj-2-6.pdf Shkelqim Veseli South East European University, Tetovo, North Macedonia true Besa Arifi South East European University, Tetovo, North Macedonia Balkan Research Journal 2955-2516 2955-2524 Balkan University Press https://brj.ibupress.com

Globalization and Regional Conflicts of the Contemporary Era globalization-and-regional-conflicts-of-the-contemporary-era Volume 2, Issue 1 Research Article 2025 2 This paper explores the intricate relationship between globalization and regional conflicts in the contemporary era, focusing on specific case studies that illustrate the multifaceted impacts of global interconnectivity on local strife. The ongoing war in Ukraine serves as a critical example of how geopolitical rivalries and economic dependencies shape conflict dynamics, prompting a re-evaluation of traditional security paradigms. The genocide in Gaza highlights the humanitarian crises exacerbated by globalization, revealing the complexities of international responses and the role of media in shaping perceptions. Similarly, the evolving governance structure in Syria demonstrates the influence of external actors and regional powers in shaping conflict outcomes and post-conflict reconstruction efforts. Turkey’s role in regional conflicts and the role of its diplomacy were particularly emphasized, as it navigates its position between global powers and regional responsibilities. As regional conflicts continue to unfold, the contemporary era is expected to witness further polarization and fragmentation, with rising nationalism and protectionism potentially challenging multilateral cooperation. The interconnected nature of today’s global society may result in the spillover effects of regional conflicts, influencing global economics, migration patterns, as well as international security dynamics. The findings indicate that an understanding of globalization’s impacts is essential for effective conflict management and for anticipating future geopolitical trends in a rapidly changing global landscape. The paper posits that addressing regional conflicts through a global lens is crucial for fostering sustainable peace and stability in an increasingly interconnected world.

]]> Amnesty International. (2024). Amnesty International investigation concludes Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-International-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/

Artemenko, F. Y., Hovorov, Y. I., Maksymova, I., & Kostiuk, V. (2024). The impact of conflict on contemporary global dynamics: Integration, globalisation, and polarisation trends. Multidisciplinary Reviews. Retrieved from ResearchGate.

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]]> globalization, regional conflicts, contemporary era 2025-06-19 https://brj.ibupress.com/articles/globalization-and-regional-conflicts-of-the-contemporary-era 1 85-101 en CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ https://brj.ibupress.com/file/627/ibu-journal-brj-2-7.pdf Rilinda Maqellara Memeti South East European University, Tetovo, N. Macedonia true Balkan Research Journal 2955-2516 2955-2524 Balkan University Press https://brj.ibupress.com

Tekkes and Tombs of North Macedonia by İsmail Güleç and Mümin Ali Balkan University Press 2024 tekkes-and-tombs-of-north-macedonia-by-ismail-gulec-and-mumin-ali-balkan-university-press-2024 Volume 2, Issue 1 Book Review 2025 2 The book titled Tekkes and Tombs of North Macedonia, written by İsmail Güleç and Mümin Ali, is a valuable study that comprehensively covers tekkes and shrines, which are an important part of the Ottoman-Turkish cultural heritage in the Balkans. This book, published by Balkan University Press in 2024, holds the distinction of being the inaugural publication of the “Academic Studies” series

]]> 2025-06-19 https://brj.ibupress.com/articles/tekkes-and-tombs-of-north-macedonia-by-ismail-gulec-and-mumin-ali-balkan-university-press-2024 1 103-105 en CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ https://brj.ibupress.com/file/626/ibu-journal-brj-2-8.pdf Uğur Öztürk Bandirma On Yedi Eylül University, Türkiye true Balkan Research Journal 2955-2516 2955-2524 Balkan University Press https://brj.ibupress.com